What is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid?

A lightweight serum containing 2% alpha arbutin and hyaluronic acid, designed to fade dark spots, post-acne marks, and uneven skin tone while providing hydration.

Is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid worth it?

Mostly yes. 10 of the 12 gurus who reviewed it give it their stamp of approval, for a Guru Score of 83%.

What is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid's Guru Score?

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid holds a Guru Score of 83%. That is our read on how warmly the experts talk about it, based on the verdicts of 12 expert reviewers we have collected. At least one expert has named it a Top Pick in its category.

Who is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid best for?

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid is generally suited to acne-prone skin.

What is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid good for, according to the experts?

In their reviews, experts say The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid is good for dark spots and post-acne marks (7 experts), melasma (2 experts), dull skin (2 experts), breakouts and acne (1 expert) and irritated or reactive skin (1 expert).

Is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid good for dark spots and post-acne marks?

7 experts who reviewed The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid say it is. Dr. Vanita Rattan put it this way: “I use The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% to reduce hyperpigmentation.”

The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid: Guru Score 83%

What the gurus are saying.

Every take we've logged from this product's reviews across YouTube. Click any row to watch the moment they said it.

All takes Yay takes Nay takes Mixed takes Hide sponsored

Dr. Vanita Rattan

1.23M subs

✓Nay

"The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin, the brand's OG product for pigmentation, scores 47 out of 100, rated poor by the Yuka app for the same reason."

Top Pick: beginner dark spot serum

All 18 takes from Dr. Vanita Rattan

Are You Making These 5 Hyperpigmentation Mistakes?

"Start cheap. Don't start with my products. Start with The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid. Then maybe layer in a niacinamide. If you're not seeing results, then it's because it's likely you've got stubborn pigmentation that tends to happen in skin of color and you actually need a cocktail of tyrosinase inhibitors."

THE ORDINARY VS LUXURY SERUMS

"Alpha arbutin 2% is actually one of my favorite actives and is in the correct therapeutic index. The Ordinary has actually done a very good job with this particular product. [...] The way tyrosinase inhibitors work is that they reduce the level of pigmentation being formed. There are 10 different tyrosinase inhibitors that I love for skin of color, alpha arbutin being one of them."

BRIDAL SKINCARE MISTAKES

"For long-term results you need tyrosinase inhibitors. Start cheap with two percent alpha arbutin from The Ordinary, it's very good just on the pigmentation itself."

HYPERPIGMENTATION ROUTINE - UNDER £35

"The second product is The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid, which is under 10 pounds, but it has actually jumped up in price. It used to be much cheaper a couple of years ago, but honestly, they're right to increase the price because Alpha Arbutin is very, very expensive. I'm a cosmetic formulator myself, and it is one of the most expensive actives, so I don't even know how they were charging such a cheap price for so long, to be honest."

HYPERPIGMENTATION LAYERING

"Alpha Arbutin 2% is where the clinical studies are based at. Alpha Arbutin is a tyrosinase inhibitor. Tyrosinase inhibitors are essential because there's one enzyme needed to make melanin and that's tyrosinase. If you inhibit this enzyme you're reducing the rate of melanin production, so you're reducing the rate of hyperpigmentation production. [...] This is one of the most effective ones for skin of color."

Doctor's TOP 5 Skincare Regrets- Avoid These!

"Start with your 2% Alpha Arbutin from The Ordinary or from the inky list or from minimalist and if that doesn't work after a few months you can upgrade to our facial pigmentation kit specifically for skin of color. I think the key here is never be too aggressive with your skin."

ACNE THE ORDINARY AM/PM LAYERING

"I use The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% to reduce hyperpigmentation. It's probably my favorite tyrosine inhibitor. It comes out like a serum, a little globular, and I pop this particularly on the hyperpigmented areas. It doesn't need to go everywhere. I'm a firm believer in wearing less is better."

TREAT TEEN ACNE & SCARS FAST

"I would focus this mainly on the pigmentation areas but you can put on the whole face. Plus it's anti-aging as well because of vitamin A, it's got retinol and retinal in it. [...] Start cheap, start with Alpha Arbutin from The Ordinary. If that doesn't work and you want to upgrade, you have an option."

HOW TO TREAT MELASMA

"I like the two percent Alpha Arbutin from The Ordinary. I always say start cheap so the products I would recommend to start with if you have hyperpigmentation is the two percent Alpha Arbutin from The Ordinary."

WATCH if your HYPERPIGMENTATION is getting worse- Dr Vanita Rattan

"So melasma you start off with 2% alpha arbutin from The Ordinary or from Inkilah so about 10 or 11 so it's not too expensive and they are tyrosinase inhibitors."

DEBUNKING 7 Skincare Myths Destroying Your Skin| Dr Vanita Rattan | Skin of colour

"I always say start cheap so start off with your 2% Alpha Arbutin from The Ordinary or from Minimalist. In fact a lot of companies now have copied The Ordinary and are doing 2% Alpha Arbutin which is fine."

Top 5 Products You Must Avoid For Melanin Rich Skin- Subscribe and hit your notification bell!

"Safer than hydroquinone would be alpha arbutin, tranexamic acid, kojic acid. For example, if you want to start off cheap, start off with The Inky List or The Ordinary for alpha arbutin."

How to Treat Bikini Pigmentation on Skin of Colour | The Full Protocol

"The cheapest one would be 2% alpha arbutin from The Ordinary."

Skincare & Haircare 40’s Dr Vanita Rattan

"If you're full-on melasma and you've tried everything, you've tried the 2% alpha arbutin from The Ordinary, which is what I recommend as your first line treatment"

Best and Worst Dark Mark Serums for Skin of colour 2024

"The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid is $24. It's not cheap but it's very effective as a first line treatment. A lot of people have tried to copy what The Ordinary have done but actually have done a pretty poor job. This is still the first line that I recommend. There's no rebound hyperpigmentation and it's good for early stage hyperpigmentation. Plus it's fragrance free and it's a nonirritating formula that would be your first go-to product."

Glycolic Acid Safe For Black & Brown Skin?

"In the evening when you're looking for tyrosinase inhibitors the budget option that I like is 2% alpha arbutin which you can buy from the ordinary followed by a niacinamide serum and then a ceramide based moisturizer."

STOP Buying These Dark Spot Serums

"It's fragrance-free and essential oil-free, and alpha arbutin at 2% is fantastic. It's one of the most gentle, most reliable tyrosinase inhibitors for skin of color, and it costs £8. It doesn't need airless packaging, and it's the most affordable first step, so for me I'd rate it a solid 8 out of 10 for beginners."

Yuka App Is Wrecking Your Skin

"The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin, the brand's OG product for pigmentation, scores 47 out of 100, rated poor by the Yuka app for the same reason."

Sincerely Miss Ash

196k subs

✓Yay

"This was a really effective serum for brightening the skin. Great if you have that uneven skin tone, post-acne marks, dark spots. Alpha arbutin is a tyrosinase inhibitor, so it helps prevent melanin formation. If you are dealing with discoloration and you do struggle with that, then alpha arbutin might be a great ingredient to incorporate on an everyday basis and it's well tolerated on all skin types."

All 7 takes from Sincerely Miss Ash

5 MOST UNDERRATED ORDINARY SERUMS EVERYONE FORGOT ABOUT (HIDDEN GEMS YOU NEED!)

7 Ingredients That Fade Dark Spots WITHOUT Vitamin C | These Ingredients Can Actually Work Better!

"I used to talk about this a lot several years ago and it really is effective in brightening the skin and fading even post acne marks. It's so gentle yet really effective."

AMPLIFIED RESULTS! 9 PRO VITAMIN C PAIRINGS TO LIMIT SIGNS OF AGING- ACHIEVING RADIANT/GLOWING SKIN

"The Ordinary has an amazing Alpha Arbutin serum. [...] This separate Alpha Arbutin from The Ordinary is still at 2% concentration and thank goodness that they kept this serum because this serum helps with that brighter complexion and it really helps to address that uneven skin tone. If you have dark spots or post acne marks, then this serum on its own can really help to give that even skin tone in time. This is basically like an alternative and a safer, more gentler option than hydroquinone."

TOP 5 LUXE ANTI-AGING SERUMS THAT ACTUALLY DELIVER AMAZING RESULTS - SINCERELY MISS ASH

"This one has alpha arbutin, an ingredient I've been using for several years, specifically from the Ordinary. They do have a lovely Alpha Arbutin 2% + Hyaluronic Acid serum, [...] and this ingredient is basically a plant-based ingredient to help fade dark spots and discoloration. It's very similar in the way that it works to hydroquinone, but of course it's a lot safer, it's more gentle than hydroquinone."

HOW TO FADE DARK SPOTS QUICKLY - BEST SERUMS & TREATMENTS THAT REALLY WORK!

"Alpha arbutin is a lot safer, more gentle to use, and you can use this long term. It might take a little bit longer to work if you were to compare it to hydroquinone, but at the end of the day consistency is key. Alpha arbutin really does work, and I was consistent with this ingredient a few years back from The Ordinary. I do like the Alpha Arbutin serum from The Ordinary and I still recommend it."

THE BEST ORDINARY PRODUCTS FOR HYPERPIGMENTATION, DARK SPOTS, REDNESS AND TEXTURED SKIN!

"And this serum is very underrated. I honestly don't hear anybody talking about this. I used to incorporate this all the time in both my morning and nighttime skincare routine, especially when I was dealing with a lot of post-acne marks. A couple years ago I was dealing with a lot of breakouts and this was one serum that I was very consistent with in both my morning and nighttime routine. Also, this serum is very universal. You can use any product with it without worrying about conflicts."

THESE ARE THE TOP 5 MOST UNDERRATED ORDINARY PRODUCTS THAT NO ONE TALKS ABOUT - SINCERELY MISS ASH

"I've always enjoyed this serum because it's really effective especially if you are consistent with it and you're using it at least once a day. It's a serum that you can use twice a day if you wish. It's a very gentle serum and you can honestly pair this product up with most things. There really isn't any conflicts with Alpha Arbutin, which is why I really liked it because you can pair it up with anything like your vitamin C serum, your retinol, peptides. You can pair it up with anything."

Mad About Skin

734k subs

✓Yay

"[Alpha arbutin] is really difficult to find in a standalone serum. So I would opt for The Ordinary one, 2%, which again studies show is that peak performance percentage that we should all be looking for. 2% of that wonderful [alpha arbutin] to just deliver you those quick wins."

All 11 takes from Mad About Skin

5 Best HYPERPIGMENTATION SERUMS 2026 - How I Fixed Dark Spots At 40

"I think one of the most affordable and effective on the market is the one by The Ordinary. I've yet to find one that really compares in terms of price and performance to this one. [...] Use it, love it, slot it into your skincare routine, and you'll just see the rest of your actives working a little bit more effectively, a little bit harder for you. Alpha arbutin is a [...] hidden gem, but one that's definitely an ingredient that's worth looking out for when it comes to fading dark spots."

$10 Miracle Serum - FADE HYPERPIGMENTATION FAST

"This is an oldie but a goody, it's been around 40 years, it was one of the first products The Ordinary actually launched with, but nobody talks about it. You don't hear anyone singing the praises of what is I think a phenomenally well formulated product using the ingredient that's really difficult to get, but recent studies have shown can absolutely elevate your hyperpigmentation routine. [...] Recent studies actually prove just how effective alpha arbutin is as an ingredient."

THE ORDINARY SECRET SERUMS - 5 Serums Could Change Everything!

"The Ordinary Alpha Arbutin 2% is phenomenal and the very best way of boosting your hyperpigmentation routine. [...] It's super gentle, so it'll work for everyone, no matter the level of sensitivity you have. And you can use this as part of your skincare routine to just dial up the results that you see. It's actually clinically proven to be one of the very best over-the-counter hyperpigmentation and dark spot ingredients, and I would never be without it. The Ordinary is super inexpensive."

THE ORDINARY HIDDEN GEMS - Why Is Nobody Talking About These

"I adore this serum because it's just the best way on a budget to increase your hyperpigmentation fighting routine. If you've got a good hyperpigmentation dark spots routine going but you want to take it to the next level, alfatin is the best ingredient to incorporate. The reason I say this is it works with everything, so you don't have to worry about not using it with this active or not pairing it alongside that."

GREATEST BUDGET SKINCARE EVER - Top 3 Drugstore Skincare In Every Category

"Alpha Arbutin is fantastic. It's a precursor to hydroquinone, so one of the very best hyperpigmentation fighting ingredients you are ever going to find. Super inexpensive, less than £10. What I do is I put a couple of drops [...] into my moisturizer. Whatever moisturizer you use on a morning, put a couple of drops into it and then just apply it to the skin. Dab it in and you're getting that extra boost of hyperpigmentation fighting without breaking the bank."

ULTIMATE DARK SPOT TRIO - Best The Ordinary Serums For Hyperpigmentation

"Alpha arbutin is a great addition to a skincare routine but on its own I don't think it's ever going to be enough to fade your hyperpigmentation. I bought into the hype around this product, applied it and expected game-changing results, and when I didn't get those I stopped and thought well obviously it's just a rubbish product. [...] This isn't the case. What I would say this product has is a booster to your existing routine."

$20 Miracle Trio - FADE HYPERPIGMENTATION FAST (Azelaic + Tranexamic Acid)

#1 SERUM 2025 - This $10 Serum Beats Them All (best serum 2025)

"This is a fantastic serum when it comes to fading hyperpigmentation, dark spots, and discoloration. [...] This genuinely delivers, and it costs £10 here in the UK, so it's around $12. That price point is going to match almost everyone's budget out there. And I think this is an absolute no-brainer. I would say of the three serums I'm mentioning today, this is the absolute standout one of the three. It just is amazing. Alpha Arbutin is a fantastic over-the-counter hyperpigmentation treatment."

THE ORDINARY SALE 2025 - Top 10 The Ordinary Serums

"I use it for its hyperpigmentation fighting abilities during summer in particular. I'll pop a couple of drops into my moisturizer and it will really help just reduce hyperpigmentation and gradually fade it. It's one of the most effective [...] over-the-counter hyperpigmentation treatments. The way I say it's controversial is it does have a slight oniony smell. So it's not overwhelming, but it's present. [...] I don't like the scent, but I love the price point, so I put up with it."

It's Official - 2026 BEST HYPERPIGMENTATION SERUM ( How To Use Alpha Arbutin )

"This is the one that I've been using for the past 12 months and has delivered me some gamechanging results. [...] Alpha arbutin is actually a precursor to hydroquinone. So anyone that's really studied dark spots and discoloration knows that the most potent hyperpigmentation ingredient is hydroquinone. Now in most places it's actually prescription strength only, and that's because it comes with a whole host of side effects and issues. Yes, it works."

THE ORDINARY VITAMIN C DISCONTINUED - What You Need To Know

"This is the same great strength of arbutin as with that vitamin C product but obviously you haven't got that vitamin C alongside it. You then just have to pair this with your favorite vitamin C of choice. [...] You then just apply a couple of drops of your alpha arbutin after you've applied vitamin C and you'll get the same great results when it comes to fading hyperpigmentation, even out the skin tone, taking it to the next level without having to spend a whole lot more."

Dr. Aleksandra Brown

153k subs

✓Yay

"This is a very affordable, effective choice to reduce your dark spots with hydration from hyaluronic acid at the same time. It will help fade dark spots and acne marks, and as well as post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation, melasma, or any sunspots that you may have. It evens out skin tone by reducing patchiness or dullness. It's safe for daily use. It's gentler than some of the other options. It's definitely gentler than a prescription hydroquinone."

Beyond50Skin

32k subs

✓Yay

"If you're looking for a single ingredient formula, The Ordinary has an alpha arbutin with hyaluronic acid that's a little bit more on the budget friendly side."

Nipun Kapur

413k subs

✓Yay

"I do like the one by Ordinary alpha arbutin 2%"